Revolving mercury flasher



Feb. 18, 1930.

J. DOEPPLER REVOLVING MERCURY FLASHER Filed June 16, 1927 Josep/f` @amapola/el"` vwentoz Patented Feb. 1.8, 1.930

Unirse stares JosErH DOEPPLER, or NEW YORK, N.

REVOLVING MERCURY FLASI-IER Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to improvements in electric switching devices of the rotary type and particularly to that class of these devices which are used to light and extinguish periodically electric lamps or groups of lamps.

Such switches are principally used to produce lighting effects of electric signs and are generally known as flashers It is the obj ect of this invention to provide al flasher-mechanism in which all the circuit making and breaking contacts are completely enclosed in a ,single cylindrical chamber and protected thereby.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a flasher in which mercury forms the contact making medium.

Itis a further object of the invention to providc a flasher in which the same mechanism can be varied for a plurality of switching con` ditions as required for spelling flashers or for those of the running-border type.

It is also an object 'of the invention to provide a fiasher which is very simple in construction and embodies a small number of 5 parts.

With these and other objects in view which will become more apparent as the description progresses, the invention consists in a novel construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described and linally pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings which form a material part of the specifications,

Fig. 1 is a' front elevation of my flasher i partly in section on line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation seen in the direction of arrows 2--2 of Fig. 1. Parts of the casing 14 are broken away to show the interior. r

Fig. 3 is a part top plan of Fig. 1 as indicated by arrows 3--3 at that figure.

Fig. 4 is part of a side view as indicated by line 4 4 at Fig. 2. f

Fig. 5 is a front elevation showing a preferred arrangement of variable contact segments.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5 showing the mounting of the segments partly in section.

1927. serial No. 199,265. f

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a single contact segment. 1

This flasher consists of a central horizontal shaft 11 mounted in suitable journals 12l which are held on bearing blocks 13 and mounted on a base plate 10 preferably of insulating material. On this shaft a-cylindrical casing is supported to rotate therewith which consists of a tube of insulating material 14, preferably made of glass. It is held between end plates 15 likewise of insulating material. The ends of shaft 11 which extend beyond journals 12 are used to connect the tube to a rotatinginedium as an electric motor by means of a pulley, clutch, or other driving medium. Wit-hin the drum formed by tube 14 and end disks 15 a plurality'of insulating bushings 16 are carried on shaft 11. These bushings are provided with a cylindrical recess 16a at one end and a cylindrical collar 16b at the other end so that the collar 16b of each bushing enters into the recess 16a of the adjacent one (see Figs. 1 and 6). Between each two bushings one or more contact plates 17 are held on collar 16b thereof. These plates (see Fig. 7 consist of a ring 17d and disk-segment 17 integral therewith, preferably made from sheet metal. Bushings 16 yare provided with a plurality of longitudinal apertures 'of which the illustrations show three. These apertures are close to the shaft 11 so that they come within the diameter of collars 16" and recesses 16a. A wirev conductor 25 is located in each one of these apertures, one end of each conductor is soldered to a different vsegment 17. Thesev reach through registering apertures in end` plates 15 to the outside ofthese plates and are fastened to them by means of long radial screws 18 which serve as conductors and lead beyond theperiphery of plates 15.

` On the outside of tube 14 are mounted longitudinally thereof rectangular bars 19 which extend beyond both end plates 15 and accommodate the outer end4 portions of screws 18 lnear both ends. Each bar' is provided on its outer face with ya slot 20 extending from each end an equal distance towards its center, but these slots are of ay different length for each bar 19.- The bars 19V are encircled by collector rings 21 corresponding in number to the numberV of contact plates within the tube 14. i Each ring 21 is placed ina'linement vwith one of the-contact plates. A strip conductor 22 :rests on the bottom ofeach slot 20 and is fastened at one end to vscrew 18 by means of a nut 24-andat its other end to a v collectorfr'ing `21by means of a screw 23.

' Slots 20 are `deep-enough inbars 19 to leave a space between rings 21 and conductor 22 which is occupied by aninsulating cover.l

In the manner described an insulated path isprovided from each segment inside of the l tube ..14 to a collector ring in alinementtherewith'on the outside thereof. For instance in Fig. 1 the conductor`25 is shown attached to the irstcontact plate 1 7 nearest the end-plate 15. 1 This conductor leadsk to the point of screw 18 which leads to flat conductor 22 and therefrom' through screw 23 tothe first colf" Y.lector ring 21., -Thesame-bar 19 provides in 'a like manner for thejconnection, of the first disk and collector ring at the-opposite end of' tube 14. The second pair ofy contact plates is connected to the second pair ofcollector rings from end plates 15 by conductorsv 25 Y occupying apertures in bushings' 16 which are 120 degrees distant from the former, and their screws 18 and bars 19 occupy corresponding positions; on tube 14. The strip con- Y ductors 22 in slot 2O for this pair of contact plates passinsulated below the first collect-or f ring to the second one. .Y

Vbon brushv mounted inholder 31 upon an insulatorbar 32 and vsupported on posts 33r Y Fig.'4 showsthis'connection fora collector ring in third'position from end disk 15,.

In contact with each collector ring is a carat its'b-ottomline and remains there by gravments'of different arcs to suit the conditionsV ity in `shape of a bar 'extending from one "end lplate to the other., while the casing is rotated. One of thev contactplates is preferably( a complete disk whilel the others-are segrequiredyforlthe performance of the flasher. A plurality of contact disks 17 shown in Fig.

l7 can` be so placed on'the collars 16a of bush` ings ljthat several-openings, varying in .de-v

grecs can be left between'thesegments witharcs. IBy

yout makingl special segments of the desiredy tying the knuts 26l on shaft 11 'outside of end plates 15 these plates and all bushings16, and contactplates 17 are pressed kagainst,each other' ontube 14and the segments forming the contact plates are clamped lintheir selected position. Y Y f lIn the operation of this device ters through one o-f the carbon'brushesSO into mime@ the collector ring in contact therewith, passes through screw 23, strip conductor `22, screw 18 and wire 25 into the contact plate 17 connected thereto. As one of these'plates is a circular disk it passes into the mercury therethrough at all times. In case another plate 17 lis passing through the mercury at that inj sstantitpasses through the same and in the above described path to the collector. ring and carbon brush of that Contact lplate, completf ing the circuit. vIfthe casing is rotated'theVV various segmental contactplates Vmake and Vbreak contacts in desired manner in accordance with their arrangement on bushings 16 f andV shaft 11 and with the degrees "of their arcs of contact. y

A This iiasher has the advantage that no hard metallic contacts4 are broken, that no vopen* arcs are formed and that a greater'nuinber of ycombinations may be made and thatthe length of contact time may be varied without mechanical alterations of the same instrument.. f

Another greatv advantage :of thisjaser is@ Y v its noiselessness. f

. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to Patent is:

lso f secure by Letters 1. In a switching device a cylinder of inf sulating material, an vinsulating casingl enclosing said'cylinder, means mounting said Vcasing and said cylinderfor rotation onta common horizontal axis, a plurality of seg-- mental disks o n said cylinder and a flowable n liquid conductor atthe bottom kof said* casing,

each disk consisting of one or more spaced segments providing means to make and hold contacts with said liquid conductoraccording to the lengths of their segmental arcs and'to break said contacts'acco'rding 'toJ the lengths of the spaces between said segments when said i casingisrotated. .I i y A v 2. In a switching jdevlcea tubular casing closedatlits ends, an insulating shaft within said casing,- means mounting said casing and said shaft for rotation upon theircommon axis, a-liquid conductor at the bottom-.of said y casing, a plurality of disks mounted on said shaft in parallel planes, each disk being divided into segments of dierent arc lengths, comprisingmeans to make contacts of different' Y,

duration with said liquid conductor during ,c n

each `revolution of said disks,[and'me'ans 'onY Y* said shaft for condnuc'ting'current from each ,disk tothe outside of said casing.

f *3.V In a switching device a tube of insulating material,a pair of endplates closing said tube comprising a casing, a shaft forming the vaxis of said" casing, means mounting said shaft and-said'casingrotatably in horizontal position, a liquid conductor at the 'bottom of said casing, a pluralityy of disksegmentsv held on said shaft held insulatedy from each other in parallel planes, said liquid conductor form-f ing ymeans to make contactsof different duration between segments in different planes, and a plurality of conductors on said shaft each conductor leading from segments in the same plane-to one of said end plates.

4. In a switching device a tube of insulating material, end plates closing the openings of said tube forming a casing. a shaft forming the axis of said casing mounting it rotatably in horizontal position, mercury covering the bottom lineof said casing, a plurality of disk-segments fastened to said shaft but insulated therefrom, a conductor extending from each segment to one of said end plates, and radial conductors on said end plates to their periphery.

5. In a switching device a tubular insulating casing closed by plates at its ends, means mounting said casing rotatably on a horizontal axis, mercury within said casing and a pair of segmental disks in said casing held to rotate with the same adapted to form a connection between said plates through said mercury, and a conductor on each segmental disk, said conductors connecting each disk to a different end plate and to the periphery thereof.

6. In a switching device a tubular insulating casing, a shaft mounting said casing rotatably on its axis, a plurality of disks on said shaft, each disk being divided into spaced segments mounted to rotate with said casing, mercury in said casing, a collector ring for each disk outside of said casing, and a conductor leading from each disk to one of said collector rings forming means to close a circuit between two collector rings.

7. In a switching device an insulating casing, a pair of contact plates arranged in parallel planes within said casing, means mounting said plates and said casing for rotation upon a common axis, a collector ring for each contact plate outside of said casing, a liquid l couductor at the bottom line of said casing adapted to establish during each revolution of said casing a plurality of connections of differing duration between said contact plates, and conductors leading through opposite ends of said casing for connecting each contact plate with its collector ring.

8. In a switching device an insulating casing having end plates closing opposite sides thereof, a shaft mounting said casing for rotation and passing through said end plates, a plurality of shouldered bushings on said shaft within said casing, a disk having radial slots on the shoulder of each bushing, mercury in said casing adapted to close a circuit between two of said disks and conductors in the body of each bushing leading to the outside of said casing.

9. In a switching device a tubular insulating casing, a shaft extending therethrough, a plurality of contact plates mounted on said shaft insulated from each other, a plurality of insulator bars on the outside of said casing, parallel to said shaft, collector rings held -posite ends of said barsv and to said contact plates, connecting each contact plate to one of said brushes.

10. In a contact timing device an insulating casing having parallel end plates, a shaft .extending longitudinally through said casing -a` plurality of insulating bushings covering said shaft Vwithin saidv casing, each bushing having a projecting shoulder atone end and a recessformed at the other end, the shoulder of one bushing fitting into the recess of the adjacent bushing, a contact plate mounted on the shoulder of each. bushing, a longitudinal aperture eccentrically located in each bush? 'ing',.and vaconduetor leading from said contact plate through the eccentric aperture in the adjacent bushing to one of said end plates.

11. In a switching device a tubular insutact plates on said shaft, each platehaving a central aperture accommodating said shaft, conductor channels within said shaft disposed eccentrically around its axis parallel thereto, and a conductor for each contact l lating casing, having closed opposite ends,

plate occupying a diierent conductor channel and passing through the aperture of the adjacent contactplate.

13. In a switching device a tubular casing, an insulating shaft surrounding the axis of said casing, a plurality of contact plates held on said shaft, each contact plate consisting of a plurality of disk segments, each segment being rotatably held in a groove of said shaft, and means to press the flat sides of said segments against each other to lock them in selected position.

14. In a contact timing device an insulating drum shaped receptaclea shaft extending longitudinally through said receptacle mounting it for rotation on its axis,-a plurality of bushings longitudinally adjacent to each other covering said shaft, each bushing having a shoulder projecting from one of its ends and a plurality of disk segments rotatably mounted on said shoulder and means to hold said segments in selected positions around said shaft for forming arcs and openf ings of different degrees in their common circumference.

15. In a contact timing device an insulating casing, a shaft extending through said casing mounting it for rotation on its axis, av

'iquidicoriducor in said casing,` aplurlty of bushngseovering Said Shaft,l each bushing :ha-ving Shoulder onone of its-endsv and 'a rei'eessin tsbigherend, theshoulder 011 y011e bush- 5 ing fitting4 into the recess of the adjacent ulmshing,La pluraltyf. disk segments held ro- Y l Y at'ably ion each shoulder, kIneens to press said bushng's against* each otherfor clamping said segments between-,them inselected po- Y fadjust the Ytme-,oilopen and closed Contact 'ibe''ween'feaclsegment on the'same shoulder Land-,said liqudconductor.' Y

In testimony whereof, I JOSEPH DOEPPLER, 15 {sgnednmy' Iane'to ythis vspeciflcaton this thday ofJneylQQ/. Y

Wenen. 

